SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival began on Friday night, June 9, with "An Evening with Mary Roach," the best-selling science writer, and closed on Saturday, June 10, with a keynote from 2017 Caldecott Medal Winner Javaka Steptoe.

All together, the festival had more than 80 authors participating, representing poetry, children's and young-adult literature, fiction and non-fiction. Organizers estimate that over 1,000 people attended the various programming, all of which was free, throughout the day on Saturday.

On Saturday, visitors to the festival could enjoy live performances in The Great Hall at The Woodland and meet and have books signed by more than 20 children's authors. Directly outside The Woodland were tents with books available from a variety of independent publishers and local food vendors as well.

Around the corner at the Burgdorff Center, 20 panel discussions took place throughout the day on subjects ranging from "Nurturing the Writer in Your Child or Teenager" to "Gentrification, Race, and the Future of the Urban Community."

Tracey West, author of the popular "Dragon Masters" series for children, said she was thrilled to be part of the first Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival, and mentioned not only the great venue but also how much she enjoyed being part of seeing "kids really excited about books."

Robert Lasner, the founder and director of the Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival, described the festival as bringing together "authors, readers and book lovers from all over New Jersey, as well as New York City."

Lasner also expressed his gratitude to those who helped with the festival, sharing "thank you to everyone, from our amazing volunteers to our sponsors and vendors, Andrew and his staff at the Woodland -- you rock, Larry and Stephan -- to the incredible Kings in Maplewood, for keeping everyone well-fed and hydrated. And of course, everyone who came out to support us in our first year."

Based on the reactions from this year's inaugural festival, many are eagerly awaiting the sequel. Luckily, Lasner plans for the festival to return.

"Glad its over--I actually got some sleep last night--after a few particularly enjoyable beers, am already looking forward to next year," said Lasner, adding "save the dates, June 8 and 9, 2018."

TAPinto SOMA is a media sponsor of the Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - A woman was the victim of an armed robbery in Maplewood on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from Maplewood Police Chief Jim DeVaul. The suspects, who were arrested on Friday, are believed to have also committed similar incidents the same day in South Orange and Irvington, stated police.

According to Maplewood police, a woman was walking alone in the area of 51 ...

NEWARK, NJ – Six members of the Brick City Brims set of the Bloods street gang were arrested last week for their alleged roles in a major drug trafficking organization that dealt heroin in and around Newark.

Tyrone Brown, 34, Lamarr Burwell, 22, and Miles McCloud, 37, all of Newark, and Martin Pettiford, 23, of Irvington, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - The South Orange 8th grade boys basketball team went from "worst to first," winning the Suburban Essex League championship on March 9, according to an update from the South Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs (SODRCA).

The update from SODRCA stated, "For a team that went winless (0-14) last season, winning the Suburban League Boys 8th ...

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - Tree branches that fell as a result of the recent storms were originally to be collected by the Maplewood Department of Public Works (DPW) through Friday, March 16, but an email from the DPW on March 15 stated that branch collection would now be extended until Friday, March 23.

According to the previous email, Maplewood residents are asked to "please ...

Get ready for farmers markets and outdoor events, spring is bound to come at some point! To help you get ready Sadie's has lots of new spring products including this great Market Tote by Feed- the purchase of this cute everyday bag will donate 50 school meals. While stopping in for this tote check out some of the other great spring items just in. Don't forget the charity of the month is ...

Shop of the morning to you! It’s that time of year when everyone’s color is green! Stop by Sadie's to get your St. Patty’s shirt before the big day. While your here and feeling lucky check out our latest Spring styles for Men and Women. You may make your friends green with envy.

Horoscope: Have a birthday between 3/13 and 3/24? If you stumble into a ...

On this episode of AtlantiCast, new clinical studies in the fields of cardiology and immunotherapy, national and statewide recognitions for Atlantic Health System medical centers and the inaugural AtlantiCast Collab Challenge!

Adult Arrest/Shoplifting - William Minitee, a 45 year old Irvington resident was arrested on Thursday, March 8, at approximately 12:40 p.m. for shoplifting. Security officers at the Stop & Shop on Valley Street observed Minitee conceal several items on his person and then flee the store without paying for the items. Officers stopped a subject ...

March 4 - Burglary; At approximately 1:20 a.m., officers observed a male removing several items from inside DeHart Community Center. The male was identified as 22 year old Joe Carr of Irvington. He was arrested and charged with burglary.

March 6 - Burglary; At approximately 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a home on Broadview Avenue on a report of a ...

SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD, NJ - On Wednesday, March 14, the Women’s March Youth EMPOWER is organizing a National School Walkout. According to the national march website, the walkout is for 17 minutes at 10 a.m. "to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods... and to demand Congress ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ – Even a week’s delay caused by a massive snowstorm couldn’t dampen the spirits of the large crowd of spectators who cheered on the marchers and bands who participated in West Orange’s 67th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday.

Wending their way up Main Street were more than 25 bands, including marching bands from northern New Jersey high ...

NEWARK, NJ – Six members of the Brick City Brims set of the Bloods street gang were arrested last week for their alleged roles in a major drug trafficking organization that dealt heroin in and around Newark.

Tyrone Brown, 34, Lamarr Burwell, 22, and Miles McCloud, 37, all of Newark, and Martin Pettiford, 23, of Irvington, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to ...

SPRINGFIELD, NJ - As of Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Springfield is showing outage of 2,677 or 25 percent, which is down from over 40 percent in the last two hours. It is also down from 68 percent at the peak. Union County at this point is over 20 percent of JCP&L’s statewide outages. Trucks are visible on Township streets with a caravan spotted on ...